Samuel Ryder

Sam Ryder - The Businessman

Sam stated that one of his early jobs was with a firm of Manchester Shipping Merchants. At some stage he was with a large London firm in the seed business and also once with a large limited company in Derbyshire, where he was Manager. Undoubtedly he travelled extensively on the Continent, particularly in France. He also worked in his father's business as a partner. Of course, he is remembered for his acumen in marketing seeds which he stated was derived from his study of other English and Continental establishments.

He was thirty-seven years of age when he started in St Albans (1895). Probably, he knew the City quite well as he married a girl from Bishops Stortford.

In 1897 the St Albans Almanac shows him living in a small terraced house at the top of Folly Lane. He lived there with his wife and daughter Lucy. Lucy remembered that at this time, Sam and her mother kept seeds in a shed in the garden and prepared catalogues and seed packets in the house. They carried a large clothesbasket full of correspondence, chiefly seed catalogues, down to the General Post Office a mile away. This was done every Friday night so that the catalogues would be in the hands of working men on Saturday afternoon when they would be enjoying their weekly half-day holiday.

In 1903, Sam moved his seed staff to the rear of No 27 Holywell Hill. No 27 was a building erected on what was originally the Bull. The Bull was one of the largest Inns in St Albans (described in Tudor times as "the greatest Inn I have seen in England" and visited by Queen Elizabeth who entertained there in 1577. Having built the seed packing business at the rear of No 27 Sam eight years later built the front premises facing Holywell Hill. In these buildings Sam employed up to ninety girls packing seeds. The speed with which his business grew at this time was impressive.

Sam set up Heath & Heather Limited to pack and market herbs with the help of his elder brother James. James had been a schoolmaster for forty years, chiefly in the slums of London. He retired in March 1920 and studied herbs and their medicinal value. This fitted well with Sam's business and he provided the capital. A start was made in July 1920 in a modest building in Albert Street. In March 1922 it was in a warehouse in Dagnall Street and the move to the factory was 1924. His wife, became Superintendent of Heath & Heather Ltd, and produced books on herbs. She also lectured throughout the country on the subject of 'Herbs and their uses'.

The factory in 1925 was described as 'the largest retail Herb warehouse in the world' and had a floor area of upwards of 24,000 feet. It was a former hat factory. The picture of it shows how well it was decorated in letters, which could be read by passengers in every train to London.

 Sam Ryder - The Politician

Samuel Ryder was elected to the office of Mayor in November 1905. He had only been a member of the Council for two years so he was very much a new boy.

Sam's speech, which must have lasted for nearly one hour, was introduced by his saying he was risen from his sick bed and was under great difficulties. He commented upon Local Government and on the St Albans City Council in a manner hardly expected from a "new boy" and many of his remarks were greeted with laughter and derision. He said he was not satisfied with the Council's financial organisation. First he remarked "we rejoice in a debt of £40,000 and our income is raised every year and mainly all spent or bespoken before we raise it so that we are in a sense "debt collectors". It is humiliating."

He then referred to the poor of the City in what now seems a very patronising way.

"I have great sympathy with the poor. I have gone into the homes of many of these people. The poor people are much better people than we thought they were. I would challenge any gentleman to go down Sopwell Lane and call at house after house - he would be surprised at those simple cottages.... It was chiefly from the ranks of such people that our sailors and soldiers were recruited..."

The next part of his speech was even more demeaning of the Council.

"If a party visits me as Mayor, where do I take them? Would I take them to the Council Chamber which belongs to someone else? Could I take them to the Gas Works, which belongs to a private company? To the waterworks which belongs to some else? The only thing the Council has is a Sewage Farm... He concluded that part of his speech by saying "when you have a City in that state, there is something wrong with its government". He considered that the Council was... a very easy comfortable and happy place to come to and to spend an evening. It was very sleepy, comfortable and easy going and when it was dead the Jury would return a verdict "found dead in bed..."

At the conclusion of his address, the new Mayor asked the Council in dealing with the resolutions which were to follow to "refrain from referring to the subjects he had discussed", although the temptation he knew would be great. He knew perfectly well that in speaking like that he was courting criticism.

Not only did Sam describe himself in those days as a 'J.P' during his Mayoralty and thereafter, but so did every other Mayor of the City. Although by Statute the Mayor of a Borough was Chairman of the Bench of Magistrates and continued to sit on the Bench during his service on the Council, nowhere was he given the title of 'J.P'? From 1912, this was appropriate only to County Justices who were on the Lord Chancellor's Roll. Sam was described as 'Justice of the Peace' in the metal plate laid with the foundation stone of his offices in 1911. He at some stage realised that he was not entitled to the appellation with the result that he applied to have his name added to the Roll in 1913. In fact, his name was not recommended. However, a further application was successful and the Lord Chancellor did add his name to the Roll with effect from 3rd January 1914.

Sam Ryder - The Churchman

Two names are outstanding during the expansion of the Spicer Street Independent Chapel, a retired congregational Minister, the Reverend George Gaelic and Samuel Ryder. They used their influence and were largely responsible for the building of a new Church (Trinity). In the records of this it is suggested that the intention was to close Spicier Street Chapel but whether this was so or not, until 1925 the two Churches continued under one management. The Minister was the Revd. William Carson and the most influential layman was Sam Ryder. He had joined the church soon after Mr Carson's arrival in 1895. A strong friendship grew up between these men. As soon as Sam became aware of Carson's aspirations to build a new Church he threw his energy into the scheme. The deacons at Spicier Street were anxious enough to get new premises but hesitated to commit themselves. Ryder won them over and a decision was taken to build on a vacant plot. On enquiry, it was found that the Methodists had got in first. Carson then found a site, which was better. Carson being an Irishman was much moved by the "Irish Question" and it was suggested that Sam Ryder by his advice prevented the pulpit from becoming a political platform. As it was, both Mr Carson and Sam were "active" passive resisters and frequently sponsored meetings against the Education Acts.

The religious education of children was very much an issue and in St Albans the gulf between the Church of England and the Non-conformists was a wide one. Differences over Education accentuated the rift between the two main streams. Church of England people dealt with Church of England tradesmen. Nonconformists dealt with Non-Conformist tradesmen.

Sam was deeply connected with the Mid-Herts Sunday-School Union, which was formed on 28th June 1904. At a meeting presided over by the Mayor, it was reported that Mr S Ryder gave a personal subscription of ten shillings.

There was, at this time, a National Scripture Examination, which was first held in 1905 when one hundred and sixty-two students took part. The results were judged nationally by the National Sunday School Union and Samuel Ryder was listed as contributing ten shillings for each of the following four years. In 1910, he was described as an "ex-Sunday School Superintendent" and "a hearty sympathiser with the Sunday School work". He was elected Vice-President of the Union in 1911 and in 1912 President.

In 1912, there is the first reference to the "Shield of Honour". This shield was given by Sam for an annual competition between schools in Mid-Herts. The following is an extract from a report for 1911:

"SHIELD OF HONOUR

The union acknowledges with gratitude the generous gift of the president (Councillor S Ryder, J.P) of a Shield of Honour for annual competition among the various schools in connection with the Scholars' Scripture Examination. It is expected that this Shield will awaken keener interest in the Examination among the Schools of the Union."

In 1913 Alderman Ryder was thanked for his two years service as President.

The Ryder Shield is still in competition and was awarded to the students of the United Reformed Church in Homewood Road for the year 1996.

When Trinity Church was opened (at the bottom of Sam Ryder's garden) in September 1903, there was a Civic Lunch at the Town Hall and there was a procession by the Mayor and Councillors together with local dignitaries and Churchmen, down Victoria Street to the Church. The Revd William Carson conducted the service and the Church became Trinity Congregational Church. Carson was not very strong and the strain of the double pastorates of Trinity and Spicer Street was too much. In 1906, he resigned and moved to Newcastle-on-Tyne.

After the end of the war, in fact in January 1919, at the monthly Church Meeting, Sam seconded a proposal that "a special thanksgiving effort be made to clear off the Church's debt in the space of three years". This was done and amongst the three names listed was that of Sam Ryder. He resigned from the Diaconate of Trinity Church in 1922 but daughter Joan served for fifty years and was a Sunday School Superintendent.

In 1925 the project to build a new hall for Trinity had been put on one side as the appeal in 1924 had only raised £255. In 1926, Sam took it over and the records pay tribute to the generosity of Heath and Heather Ltd assisted by funds from Mrs Faulkner (who gave £2,000). In March of that year, the fund stood at £6,700. Faulkner Memorial Hall was then built.

Samuel Ryder and Alderman Faulkner dominated the history of Trinity Church, from its conception in 1903 until 1936. If Sam Ryder had to choose between his contribution to Religion or to the game of golf, it seems likely that the former would come first.

Sam Ryder - The Golfer

It was only by chance that Ryder ever became interested or involved in golf. He had played cricket in his younger days, being a spin bowler. and living near the Old Trafford ground had followed the fortunes of the Lancashire county team. After arriving in St Albans in 1895, sport took no further part in his life as he launched his penny packets seeds business and became totally involved in the life of the city.

At the age of 50, he had a breakdown in health, from which he was slow to recover, and it was then that his Trinity Church Minister and friend, the Rev. Frank Wheeler, suggested a remedy. 'What you need is fresh air and exercise come out with me on the golf course and hit a few balls.'

It was with little enthusiasm that he agreed but with a golf club in his hands for the first time, immediately took to the game. With that unlikely scenario, the Ryder Cup story was born.

It was 1908 when Ryder stepped on to the nine-hole layout at Cunningham Fields. This was over the road from the Verulam Club, which he was to join just over a year later. In 1911, having proved his ability as a player and become a respected member of the Club, was appointed Captain.

An indication of his playing ability is given in a Club report of April 1920 which reads:

'Ryder (9) playing Birtwistle (12) and conceding two strokes accomplished the following star performance:

At the 8th (stroke hole) foozled his drive and lay about 40 yards on the tee side of the pit. Holed out in 3.

At the next hole, playing his second, was trapped in the left-hand bunker guarding the 9th. Holed out in 4.

At the 14th (stroke hole) after a fairly decent tee shot found his ball lying very badly in a sort of cart rut but holed in 3.

At the 16th, when one up, his long third was trapped in the cross bunkers, but holed in 5'

What Birtwistle thought of an opponent who holed out in three on two stroke holes, having been in trouble on both, is not recorded!

In the mid-1920s Ryder became a regular visitor to Stratford-on-Avon, taking his family there for the Shakespeare Festivals and in the daytime sought out the local golf club, becoming a popular figure there and soon welcomed as an honorary member.

The Stratford-on-Avon Club had moved to a new course and it was typical of Ryder that for the official opening of the club in April 1928 he arranged for his favourite professionals to play exhibition matches. Ryder himself was given the honour of driving off to start the matches, watched by a big crowd.

Ryder was elected captain of Stratford-on-Avon club in 1929 and 1930 and, on relinquishing the captaincy, was elected a vice president.

Stratford-on-Avon was not his only outside course. In the 1920's he used to take his family on holidays to Weymouth where he played Came Down. The Club have honoured his name in their records and at their centenary in 1996, provided a "time capsule" which is to be opened in 2096. In it is a packet of Ryder Seeds and other tributes to Sam Ryder

Verulam members had honoured him by electing him their first Vice-President.

Sam Ryder - The Man

There was no doubt Sam's health was bad in the 1930s and he went to South Africa and visited his daughter Marjorie in Rhodesia to try and recover his health.

Sam made his Will with the help of his Solicitors, Stanley Maidens and Robins of Manor Road, St Albans on 21st November 1933 and when he died on 2nd January, 1936, his estate was proved in the sum of £28,283-2s-6d. which was surprisingly small. He made no bequest to charities but included a typical Ryder comment - "I have not made any bequests to any charitable institution because I have made the same during my life-time, as calculated to be of greater benefit to all concerned, than awaiting until after my death". He also recorded that he had "bought a farm in Rhodesia and given it to my daughter, Lucy Marjorie Claisen". When his daughter Joan Ryder-Scarfe died in 1986 she left an estate valued at £572,961 which no doubt reflected the value of the seed business and Heath and Heather (having been Chairman of both).

It was the custom each Christmas for Sam to take all his family to the Langham Hotel in London and he did this in 1935. He died there of a massive haemorrhage on 2nd January 1936.

A Celtic Cross over Plot 3198, Grave No. A42 (J) in the Hatfield Road Cemetery marks the end of the man described by his daughter, Marjorie Claisen in his early days as "the laughing-stock of all the business men in St Albans".

It was the 1933 Ryder Cup match which gave Ryder the greatest satisfaction of his golfing involvement. The presence of the Prince of Wales and the enthusiasm of the 15,000 spectators confirmed for him that the matches had become established and their future was assured. Modest and unassuming, it would not have occurred to him that he had secured for himself a lasting place in golfing history.

Sam Ryder was a successful businessman who used his energy and wealth to advance the status of the professional golfer in the UK. He worshipped his God and cared for his fellow men.

For further information about the history of the Ryder Cup go to  St Albans - Home of the Ryder Cup

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